 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1953
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1953 NEW ZEALAND OAKS
For the second year in succession there was a surprise result in the New Zealand Oaks, an outsider, Bonnie Castle, wearing down the favourite, Santa Amada, in the final furlong to beat her by half a length. Last year's winner was the 12-12 favourite Swallow.
Bonnie Castle was running fourth at the end of half a mile and, when Santa Amada took charge with three furlongs to go, Bonnie Castle came on the outer at the home turn to wear her down. Highland Flirt, who paced unevenly most of the way, finished strongly for third, with Spring Walk fourth and Night Wind fifth. The rest were beaten off.
Bonnie Castle, who was bred at Invercargill by the late T A Agnew, races in the interests of Mr E R Winter and is trained at Springston by his brother, J H Winter. The combination suffered nothing through the driving of J Bryce, Jun. Bonnie Castle is a brown filly by the young Dillon Hall sire Stirling Castle, and her dam is Peace Peal, by Black Globe from Gay Chimes, by Worthy Bond(imp) from Moor Chimes, a good stayer of some 30 years ago. She was by Four Chimes, sire of some of the greatest stayers of the past notably Cathedral Chimes, Taraire and Matchlight.
Santa Amada is a black filly by U Scott from Santa Anita, by Jack Potts from Wee Truman, a half-sister to a good winner in Wee Potts. Highland Flirt, also a black is by Highland Fling from Golden Path, a Dillon Hall mare belonging to the Misfortune family. Spring Walk, a brown, is by Light Brigade from Craigneuk, a Man o' War mare who left Imperial Grattan, 2:10 3-5, Ben Ledi, 4:28 and Our Flicka, 2:48 1-5. The fifth place-filler, Night Wind, is a brown, and is by U Scott from Roydon Star, by Light Brigade from Great Burton, the dam of the free-for-all winner in Burt Scott.
Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 9Dec53